|
Frank "SuperFrank" Copsidas
Founder & Board Chair of the LPTV Broadcasters Association
| | |
A Bigger Table for Television
LPTVBA has been clear and consistent: it supports all standards, and the licensee—not a standards body—should decide which one best serves the public interest of their community.
The best days for television broadcasting are still ahead of us. This is our moment to come together, set aside yesterday’s debates, and build the future we all want to see.
| | | |
ATSC 3.0 has a clear purpose—engineers have invested years creating a powerful new standard designed for full-power television, and that work deserves recognition and room to succeed.
3GPP is far more than a cellular organization. It develops open standards for broadcast, satellite, and many other platforms. Collaboration across these worlds is how we all move forward faster. When we focus on shared progress instead of division, the entire industry gets stronger.
5G Broadcast brings a fresh, innovative path that is especially well suited for LPTV. It finally gives low-power stations a real opportunity to deliver value, reach audiences in new ways, and stand as partners in the broadcast ecosystem.
Both standards have genuine strengths. They can thrive side by side, each serving the stations and communities that choose them. Our industry is at its best when we embrace diversity—of people, of technologies, and of approaches—while staying focused on serving the public interest in local communities.
Here’s to a broadcast world big enough for ATSC 1.0, ATSC 3.0, 5G Broadcast, and any future standards that do exactly that. Open your mind, open your heart, and open your station to what best serves your community—and of course, makes you smile!
Keep smiling!
SuperFrank
| | |
Most Wanted: Your Comments - October 19 Deadline
Good news, broadcasters: the FCC has officially posted the Media Bureau’s public notice for the 5G Broadcasting rulemaking petition filed by XGN Global, X1 Mobile, and Tyche Media (full disclosure: those are my companies—yes, I have a very enthusiastic dog in this fight). The actual petition is now sitting right there on ECFS too. (It took a brief scenic detour on the way to publication, but it has arrived.)
Filing a comment is gloriously simple. No poetry required. No special format. Just tell the FCC what you think.
| | |
How to File a Comment
Link to the request for rulemaking: FCC ECFS Express Form
1. On the form, in Proceeding(s), type 26-263 and select the matching docket.
2. Add your name, contact details, and address.
3. Type your statement in Brief Comment.
4. Review it, then hit Submit.
October 19 is the deadline. A short, clear comment beats a perfect one that never gets filed.
| |
|
Charlie Ergen's Latest Act Looks Awfully Familiar
By Courtesy of TVREV
Charlie Ergen has spent much of his career looking at communications assets and seeing something other than what they appeared to be.
Read Article Here
| |
The End of Disney’s Cable TV Channels? Reportedly The Main Focus Now is Streaming
By Courtesy of Cord Cutters News
Walt Disney is moving forward with a major restructuring of its television operations, designed to pull the company further away from the cable and broadcast channels that long anchored its media business and toward an organization built around streaming viewers.
Read Article Here
| | |
FEMA and the FCC will conduct a nationwide EAS test on at 2:20 p.m. ET on November 17, 2026. All EAS Participant stations must air the test.
Subject to the caveat below for certain LPTV stations, all EAS Participant stations must file three reports in the FCC’s EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS):
- ETRS Form One is due by October 30, 2026.
- ETRS Form Two is due within 48 hours of the test, by 2:20 p.m. ET on November 19, 2026.
- ETRS Form Three is due by January 4, 2027.
As a reminder, LPTV stations are considered EAS Participants and must air the Nationwide Test. However, TV translator stations and LPTV stations operating as translators (i.e., stations rebroadcasting the programming of another station in its entirety) are NOT required to file ETRS reports.
For additional details about the test and filing ETRS reports, please refer to the FCC’s Public Notice.
Davina Sashkin (She/Her/Hers)
Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer, LLP
Partner
| | | | |
October Podcast
LPTV: From Bargain Bin to Beachfront — or, The Little Stations That Could… The Game Changer: 5G Broadcast!
In this episode of the LPTVBA Podcast: the rapidly evolving world of 5G Broadcast, from the latest developments at IBC in Amsterdam to the technology, receivers, regulatory landscape, and potential new opportunities for LPTV broadcasters.
| | | |
UPDATE YOUR PROFILE!
Share more information with members in our community - what sectors you're in, are you buying or selling? Let us know!
| | |
FREE CERT FOR MEMBERS
SiliconDust & the ATSC 3.0 Certificate Authority (ATSC3CA) is offering a free certificate to our members!
| | |
GRANTS
Are you an LPTV broadcaster, station owner, or industry professional?
Learn about possibilities for your communities.
| |
JOIN US!
We are THE association for the LPTV, Class A, and independent full-power television station business community in the USA. Members include station owners, brokers, legal, consulting, technology, and engineering community.
LPTV Broadcasting Association’s mission is to promote industry collaboration and opportunities - to provide a one source platform for insights, issues, and standards that enable the LPTV industry to thrive. Advisory services include station brokerage, maximizing station value, subchannel leasing, and resource connections.
We provide representation for our members with legislators and policy makers in an increasingly complex security-focused communications landscape.
| Thank you to our 2026 LPTVBA Annual Sponsors! | | | | |
